Arsenal look set to miss out on top summer transfer target

Arsenal look set to miss out on Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic – with his wage demands likely to price him out of a move to north London.

Arsene Wenger has identified the Montenegrin as his top target this summer, but the Gunners are reluctant to break their pay structure to secure the 23-year-old.

Jovetic is demanding around £120,000 per week, which is way above Arsenal’s current ceiling, with the club’s top earners like Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski being paid around £90,000 a week.

And with Juventus and AC Milan also in the race for Jovetic, his advisors know they can hold out for the best possible deal.

If Wenger does lose out on Jovetic, Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain could be a more realistic prospect.

The 25-year-old has been available for the last 12 months and was offered to Manchester City last summer. The Argentine striker, who fell down the pecking order last season, will speak to Carlo Ancelotti on his expected arrival at the Bernabeu this summer, and will then decide his future.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez values Higuain at around £25m and, with a reported £70m transfer budget this summer, he could be a viable option for Arsenal.

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